Airee's 60 lifts Sudurpaschim from 8 for 4 to a seven-run win over Kathmandu

Sudurpaschim Royals beat Kathmandu Gorkhas by seven runs on Friday in the first game of the day at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. It was Match 24 of NPL Season 3.

It's Sudurpaschim's fourth win in a row, and their last league game. They finish with 10 points from seven and are top of the table. OnlineKhabar and Nepal News say the win puts them in the playoffs, with Lumbini Lions. The Kathmandu Post says a top-two finish isn't certain yet: Lumbini, on 9 points, and Kathmandu, on 8, can still go past them.

Kathmandu have lost two of six and are third. The Post says Sudurpaschim have now beaten them in all three seasons.

From 8 for 4

Kathmandu won the toss and chose to field. Scott Kuggeleijn hit the first ball of the game for six and was out to the fourth, caught off Jahandad Khan. Santosh Yadav took Brandon McMullen and Ishan Pandey in the second over, both for 0, and Jahandad had Binod Bhandari lbw. Sudurpaschim were 8 for 4 in the third over.

Dipendra Singh Airee made 60 off 55, with five fours and two sixes. He put on 54 with Aarif Sheikh, who was run out for 16, and another 54 with Tharindu Ratnayake, who finished on 26 not out off 23. Jahandad got Airee with the last ball of the 19th over, and Sudurpaschim made 125 for 6.

Jahandad took three for 22 from his four overs, with a maiden. Yadav took two for 16 from three.

Kathmandu fall short

Bhim Sarki went first ball, caught off Kuggeleijn, and Sam Heazlett was run out for 11 in the second over. Anil Kharel took Yadav and Sahan Arachchige in three balls, and Kathmandu were 48 for 5 in the 10th over.

Rashid Khan made 35 not out off 31, with five fours, and Dushan Hemantha 21 off 18 before he was run out. Kathmandu were 104 for 7 after 18 overs and finished on 118 for 7.

Kharel took two for 18 from his four overs, and Kuggeleijn one for 15 from his.

Airee was player of the match.

The scorecard and the points table are on the match page.